Silas wraps up another summer of fun

City, community, businesses offer fun activities for youth

About 152 kids in Deming took part in the Sila Wilson Summer Recreation League sponsored by the City of Deming, local businesses and private donations. Wilson, a 26-year veteran of directing the league, provided recreational sports three nights a week at public parks and also held cookouts one night a week for the children. His six-week program ended the final week of summer vacation and the kids were treated to a party and cookout, below, at the Sam Baca Aquatic Center, above. (Bill Armendariz — Headlight Photo)

Silas Wilson is a working man, but he always has time for kids. He works two jobs to make ends meet, but his involvement with local youth keeps him plenty busy on weekends — a time usually reserved for alone time.

"It's a treat for me, as well as for the kids," said Wilson, 47.

He day labors for the City of Deming — a job he has held for the past 26 years. At night, He manages at Peppers Supermarket. It's a job he started 23 years ago when the grocery store was Southside Market at the corner of Ash and Gold streets.

But on Thursday through Saturday evenings, Silas is in charge of Wilson's Summer League for kids ages 6-16. He registered 152 of them this summer for the six-week program.

"We meet the Shedden (Memorial) Courts and we spend the evening playing kickball, volleyball, dodgeball and other sports. It's cooler in the evenings," Wilson said.

The program provided T-shirts for the kids and also fed them one night a week, courtesy of local businesses.

The league also moved to different parks to accommodate kids from different neighborhoods. "We visited John Waite Park, Tony Viramontes Park and the Literacy Park," Wilson said. "Those were well attended by the kids."

The program also had use of the Sam Baca Aquatic Center one night a week where the kids were invited to enjoy the center's cool-down facilities for $2.25 admission."That's where we had our back-to-school party," Wilson said. "The kids and their families played in the pools, we had a DJ play music and we fed them hamburgers, hot dogs and chips, with a soft drink."

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The city provides Wilson with four employees to help supervise the children. Parents also volunteer time to help oversee the program. Private donations are funneled in from the community and local businesses pick up the tab on meals, refreshments and snacks for the kids.

"It's been a blessing from the community to provide for these kids," Wilson said. "I see the same faces each year, but they grow a little taller."

Volunteers Rosa and Johnny Esparza have been a tremendous help to the Wilson Summer League and Sam Rodriguez and his ATM Entertainment played music every Thursday during the six-week program. "My wife, Lupe, helped out quite a bit with the program," Wilson said. "It's the only time we can spend together.

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